Holy Eucharist

About Evening Prayer

The daily cycle of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer is called The Daily Office. The texts for both offices are outlined near the beginning of the Book of Common Prayer. However, not every part of the sequence in the Prayer Book is carried out at Saint Thomas, in large part because Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer are followed by a Mass. So, for example, since we say the Lord's Prayer in the Mass, we don't also say it as part of Evening Prayer. Similarly, since we say the creed in Evening Prayer, we don't say it again in the Mass that follows.

As Saint Thomas, we follow this sequence for Evening Prayer: (1) opening sentence and responses, (2) one or more psalms appointed for the day, (3) the lesson appointed for the day, (4) the Magnificat, (5) the Apostles' Creed, (6) more responses, (7) a Collect for Peace and a Collect for Aid against Perils, and (9) the grace (2 Cor. 13:14).

Because it is abbreviated, Evening Prayer generally only lasts about ten or twelve minutes. The Mass that follows usually lasts about twenty minutes. So combined, they will take about a half hour or a bit more of your time. It's an excellent way to begin the close of your day.

If you look at the lessons assigned for Evening Prayer each day, you'll notice they are in sequence. The Daily Office lectionary breaks the Bible down into lessons to be read daily in a two-year cycle. Therefore, if you attended every service of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer (or Evensong) at Saint Thomas for two consecutive years, and also attended all the Masses that followed, you would be exposed to a large portion of Holy Scripture. If you repeated the cycle five times, you'd have a biblical mind in a decade's time. And the Word of the Lord would be an old and trusted friend.

Please know that at noon, Monday through Saturday, a priest or lay minister says these prayers, and others, near the statue of Our Lady of Fifth Avenue, which is located at the rear of the nave on the south side of the church side.